Book Review - Learning UML 2.0 by Russ Miles and Kim Hamilton
Category Book Reviews
Based on a recent project at work, I realized I needed a better understanding of UML. To that end, I decided to review the book Learning UML 2.0 by Russ Miles and Kim Hamilton. While there's still a lot to learn there, I think I have a much better grasp on what's going on...
Contents: Introduction; Modeling Requirements - Use Cases; Modeling System Workflows - Activity Diagrams; Modeling a System's Logical Structure - Introducing Classes and Class Diagrams; Modeling a System's Logical Structure - Advanced Class Diagrams; Bringing Your Classes to Life - Object Diagrams; Modeling Ordered Interactions - Sequence Diagrams; Focusing on Interaction Links - Communication Diagrams; Focusing on Interaction Timing - Timing Diagrams; Completing the Interaction Picture - Interaction Overview Diagrams; Modeling a Class's Internal Structure - Composite Structures; Managing and Reusing Your System's Parts - Component Diagrams; Organizing Your Model - Packages; Modeling an Object's State - State Machine Diagrams; Modeling Your Deployed System - Deployment Diagrams; Object Constraint Language; Adapting UML - Profiles; A History of UML; Index
Miles and Hamilton use a conversational approach to introduce the reader to UML 2.0, and they build on a model that makes sense. The Use Case view drives nearly everything, as that's the "what" of what the system is supposed to be able to do. Then they cover the logical, process, physical, and development views that support the system and show different perspectives of what the system will look like depending on which angle you view it from. All too often, it seems like UML diagrams are just thrown at the reader one after another, and there's no real explanation as to how it all fits together. Fortunately, that's not the case here, as the model framework for their tutorial puts everything in the right relationship to each other. I also appreciated how the diagram tutorials started out with just the basics and built from there. Again, it's common to see a tutorial diagram with every possible permutation thrown in right at the start. As such, it's far too easy to zone out right away because of all the baggage. Here, you get the core elements of the diagram first (which often cover 80 - 90% of what you need to know anyway), and then the extra details are introduced after that. I was much better able to conceptualize the whole discussion when put in that light... Very nice job...
I would say that if you have this book coupled with a full UML 2.0 reference manual of some sort, you'd be pretty well set to do most anything you'd need to in the world of UML. I know I'm better equipped to do those sequence diagrams now, where before I was faking it pretty well... :)
If you liked this review and found it helpful, please click on the Amazon book link in the review and click the Yes (Was This Review Helpful To You?) button at the bottom of my review. Thanks!
Based on a recent project at work, I realized I needed a better understanding of UML. To that end, I decided to review the book Learning UML 2.0 by Russ Miles and Kim Hamilton. While there's still a lot to learn there, I think I have a much better grasp on what's going on...
Contents: Introduction; Modeling Requirements - Use Cases; Modeling System Workflows - Activity Diagrams; Modeling a System's Logical Structure - Introducing Classes and Class Diagrams; Modeling a System's Logical Structure - Advanced Class Diagrams; Bringing Your Classes to Life - Object Diagrams; Modeling Ordered Interactions - Sequence Diagrams; Focusing on Interaction Links - Communication Diagrams; Focusing on Interaction Timing - Timing Diagrams; Completing the Interaction Picture - Interaction Overview Diagrams; Modeling a Class's Internal Structure - Composite Structures; Managing and Reusing Your System's Parts - Component Diagrams; Organizing Your Model - Packages; Modeling an Object's State - State Machine Diagrams; Modeling Your Deployed System - Deployment Diagrams; Object Constraint Language; Adapting UML - Profiles; A History of UML; Index
Miles and Hamilton use a conversational approach to introduce the reader to UML 2.0, and they build on a model that makes sense. The Use Case view drives nearly everything, as that's the "what" of what the system is supposed to be able to do. Then they cover the logical, process, physical, and development views that support the system and show different perspectives of what the system will look like depending on which angle you view it from. All too often, it seems like UML diagrams are just thrown at the reader one after another, and there's no real explanation as to how it all fits together. Fortunately, that's not the case here, as the model framework for their tutorial puts everything in the right relationship to each other. I also appreciated how the diagram tutorials started out with just the basics and built from there. Again, it's common to see a tutorial diagram with every possible permutation thrown in right at the start. As such, it's far too easy to zone out right away because of all the baggage. Here, you get the core elements of the diagram first (which often cover 80 - 90% of what you need to know anyway), and then the extra details are introduced after that. I was much better able to conceptualize the whole discussion when put in that light... Very nice job...
I would say that if you have this book coupled with a full UML 2.0 reference manual of some sort, you'd be pretty well set to do most anything you'd need to in the world of UML. I know I'm better equipped to do those sequence diagrams now, where before I was faking it pretty well... :)
If you liked this review and found it helpful, please click on the Amazon book link in the review and click the Yes (Was This Review Helpful To You?) button at the bottom of my review. Thanks!
| Permalink |
